STL Eats

Marnely Rodriguez-Murray is the author of the food blog Cooking with Books. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, she has worked as an overnight bread baker in Colorado and a chocolate maker in Virginia. She currently resides ...

Discover delicious eateries in St. Louis, MO!

The Midwest is known for its finger-licking barbecue methods, but there is so much more to these meat-loving states. From fine dining to some of the best ethnic foods, St. Louis, Missouri has its fair share of great restaurants.

When was the last time you thought of St. Louis, Missouri and thought about ethnic foods? You'd be surprised that there's more to this Midwestern city than just barbecue — but we did add one meaty spot to the list. It's a city packed with good eats, fun entertainment and some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet!

Monsoon Vietnamese Bistro

Nothing beats a large bowl of Vietnamese pho on a cool, spring day and Monsoon is the place to grab one. Although located in Ballwin, it’s still considered part of STL and well worth the short drive. This brothy beef soup is served with rice noodles, fresh cilantro and raw vegetables, as well as a few side sauces will make a believer out of anyone.

Address: 14248 Manchester Road, Ballwin, MO 63011

Farmhaus Restaurant

If supporting restaurants serving locally grown food is your thing (and it should be), head on over to Farmhaus and discover their seasonal, sustainable, house-made menu items that are sure to blow your mind! With Chef Kevin Willmann at the helm, they’re creating dishes by supporting local farmers, cheesemongers and butchers in their area. And since Missouri is landlocked, their amazing seafood is from the Gulf Coast, where the chef used to spend time as a young adult. The menu is packed with house-made this and locally sourced that — it's a foodie’s paradise! Their menu changes on a daily basis, so just go with whatever calls your attention. But please, leave room for the desserts — they are out of this world!

Address: 3257 Ivanhoe Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63139

Pappy’s Smokehouse

We just had to add a barbecue joint to the list because it’d be crazy to go to the Midwest and not eat some good barbecue. Voted Best BBQ in St. Louis and one of the “101 Best Places to Chow Down in America” by the Travel Channel, it’s no surprise that Pappy’s is on this list. If you dream about a certain food constantly, it must be good, and I’ve been dreaming about Pappy’s pulled pork and their brown sugar sweet potato fries for the past month. Their classic quote from owner Mike “Smokey” Emerson is, “We’ve got nothing to hide so the sauce is on the side!” Once you walk inside you’ll see what we’re talking about: the lines are long but they go fast. Also, be sure to grab a bottle of one of their sauces to take home!